Pilgrim Center chooses new executive director

andrew-johnsonThe Pilgrim Center in Hyde Park has a new executive director.

Andrew Johnson will replace the Rev. Roger Coleman at the helm of the 11-year-old organization devoted to improving the quality of life for Midtown residents. On Wednesday, October 15th, Pilgrim Center will host a public reception to introduce Johnson to the Midtown community.

The 31-year-old Johnson, who lives with his family in south Hyde Park, holds a BA in Communications from William Jewell College and an MFA in Creative Writing from UMKC.  He worked as a program manager for Harvesters for four years, overseeing meal programs for children.

Johnson says he became a community activist after his wife Kristen became pregnant with their youngest son. “We started talking about what kind of public schools would be available for our boys. The options in midtown weren’t good.”  The Johnsons joined forces with some of their neighbors and formed the Midtown Community School Initiative, an effort to secure a least one new first-class charter school to serve Midtown children. Johnson helped spearhead a push which led to a commitment by Citizens of the World, a Los Angeles-based organization that operates successful charter schools in Los Angeles and New York, to open two elementary charter schools in the Midtown area in the fall of 2016.

Johnson says he is excited about his new role as executive director of Pilgrim Center because “it combines my leadership skills with my desire for community involvement.”

Details

  • Public Reception for Andrew Johnson
  •  Wednesday, October 15th
  • 5-7 p.m.
  • Tower Tavern, 401 East 31st Street, KCMO 64108
  • More about the Pilgrim Center

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